Commenting today, Sports Minister, Edwin Poots MLA said: “I am pleased that the process is moving forward although there is still some way to go. The 15 applicants will have a three month period to prepare outline business cases, which will be assessed by Sport Northern Ireland and the Department for Finance and Personnel. A further selection process will then take place and those successful will be invited to proceed to the construction stage.
“The funding for the Elite Facilities Capital Programme is subject to approval by the Department of Finance and Personnel.
“At this stage no timetable for the run out of this part of the programme has been developed but the underlying objective of the entire Elite Facilities Programme is to have all the proposed facilities built and operational by the end of 2010.
“The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has given Northern Ireland an opportunity to improve its sporting facilities and DCAL is working with Sport Northern Ireland to take forward the development of facilities which will create a legacy for future generations.
“In the run up to the Games, I am committed to raising the level of sport, to getting the right facilities in place and to ensuring that young people in Northern Ireland have the opportunity to get involved in sport from an early age.”
Notes to Editors:
In March 2006 it was announced that £53 million had provisionally been allocated for high priority sports infrastructure projects and that winning projects could attract up to 75% of the capital costs.
In June 2007 the Minister confirmed North Down Borough Council as the preferred bidder to build Northern Ireland's first 50 metre swimming pool.
The 50 metre pool project is the first phase of the Elite Facilities programme operated by Sport Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that it will be completed by 2010 in preparation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The second competition for Olympic and Paralympic sports was announced by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland on 18th January 2007.
The Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) published in December 2005 set out the Governments long term strategy for delivery of investment in essential infrastructure for the period 2005-2015. DCAL’s indicative figure for the years 2008/09 to 2014/2015 included £53m for the Elite Sports Facilities. As part of the current Executive Budget 2007 process work on the second iteration of the ISNI 2008-2018 is underway and the outcome will inform departmental budget settlements for the three years from April 2008.
Shortlisted applicants
Name of Applicant |
Sports Involved |
|---|---|
| University of Ulster | Fencing |
| Belfast City Council | Cycling (Track), Fencing, Table tennis & Volleyball |
| Craigavon Borough Council | Rowing & Canoeing |
| Lisburn City Council | Basketball & Volleyball |
| Carrickfergus Sailing Club | Sailing |
| Antrim Borough Council | Athletics |
| Down District Council | Cycling (Track) |
| Grosvenor Grammar School, Belfast | Fencing |
| Belfast City Council | Athletics - |
| Coleraine Academical Institution | Rowing (indoor) |
| McAleer and Rushe Ltd | Tennis |
| Salto, Lisburn | Gymnastics |
| Adfinch Merchants Ltd | Cycling (Track) |
| Meadows Equestrian Centre, Portadown | Equestrian |
| Ballyholme Yacht Club, Bangor | Sailing |
Applicants not shotlisted
Newforge Country Club (Belfast) - Hockey
Derry City Council - Basketball, Boxing, Fencing & Judo
Lisburn Racquets Club - Badminton
Dungannon Rifle & Pistol Club - Shooting
Newtownabbey Borough Counci l- Taekwondo
NI Civil Service Sports Assoc (Belfast) - Hockey
Rathgael Gymnastics and Trampoline - Gymnastics
Club
Comber Rifle Club and Hollow - Shooting
Farm Ltd.
Newtownabbey Borough Council - Boxing
Southern Education & Library - Volleyball
Board (Portadown)
Queens University Belfast - Rowing
Countryside Access and
Activities Network NI (Larne) - Cycling (mountain-biking)
Note : In addition to those above not short listed parts of the University of Ulster and Coleraine Academical Institutions applications were also not short listed.
For further information please contact DCAL Press Office on 028 90 258901 or email: press.office@dcalni.gov.uk Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
